JODY BANIM is back in Tameside. The former Hyde, Droylsden and Stalybridge striker signed for ASHTON UNITED earlier this week and co-manager Paul Phillips was rejected all suggestions that Banim (36) might be too old or too lacking in fitness.
“I’ll grant that he never looked the fittest, but if you gave him the ball you couldn’t get it off him,” said Phillips. “And don’t forget that Shrewsbury Town once paid £20,000 for him.
“Jody will probably need a few games to get into things but even if he’s half the player he was he’ll be a credit to us because he’s a tip-top player.”
Banim has been working in Thailand and was lucky to survive the Bangkok bombing of early August. The blast was very close to his home and he missed it by only 20 minutes.
Tomorrow, the Robins are home to Skelmersdale United in the Evo-stik NPL premier division. Matt Chadwick, who had to go off with a strained hamstring in the midweek FA Cup replay at Guisborough, is not expected to be fit. Aaron Burns serves the second instalment of a three-game ban.
Two new faces will be in the HYDE UNITED squad at Darlington. Former Fleetwood centre-half Michael Muscat joins the Tigers from Bamber Bridge and striker Liam Davies has been signed on a month’s loan from Tranmere Rovers. Otherwise Gary Lowe has a fully fit squad.
In the first division north, GLOSSOP NORTH END visit Lancaster City without striker Kelvin Lugsden, who was left in plaster after the win over Farsley. Defender Ben Richardson is also unfit.
Tom Dean and Kyle McGonigle return for MOSSLEY who welcome Prescot Cables to Seel Park. Dougie Carroll and Mike Fish have both returned to training.
Centre-half Jack Bradley has been signed on a month’s loan from Halifax Town and co-boss Peter Band is suggesting an old face could be returning next week.
DROYLSDEN go to Ossett Albion whom they beat in the FA Cup last week with two new loan players. Striker Nial Bell and midfielder Bill Haslet-Cregg have both moved to the Butchers Arms from Rochdale.
Assistant-manager Aeon Lattie said: “Selection’s getting harder, which can only be a good thing.
In National League North, CURZON ASHTON visit leaders Solihull Moors with new signings Matt Flynn and Shelton Payne both available.
Ryan Brooke is still sidelined with a knee problem but Connor Hampson continues his return from injury and should be able to play in two weeks’ time.
STALYBRIDGE CELTIC manager Liam Watson faces a unique situation tomorrow in that the team he is facing has more experience of playing at Bower Fold than his own does.
Karl Marginson and his FC United squad will be all too familiar with their surroundings having ground-shared with Celtic on various occasions over the past three seasons.
Watson will be without long-term injury victims Alex Mudimu, Danny Wisdom and Peter Wylie, although there is some good news in that respect as Mudimu is back in light training after breaking a metatarsal. Wisdom and Wylie are already doubts for next week’s FA Cup trip to Kendal Town.
He will also be without the services of strikers Chris Simm and Adam Farrell, both through suspension. Youngster Darius Osei could be a surprise inclusion after coming off the bench to net the equaliser in Tuesday’s 3-3 thriller at Nuneaton.